this is home.

I took this picture on my way to work last week. I cannot tell you how stunned I was by the beauty that surrounded me. I live here..people vacation here...and this is the creation of the lover of my soul...how can I ignore this amazing, beautiful, gorgeous landscape like I do so very often, simply because it's "normal"?

There is nothing "normal" about His creation.

It is all made with such detail...such intricate and complex detail.

Thanks, Lord, for the amazing reminder of your presence every day.

I survived!

It's official, y'all.

I survived the new years babysitting rush. December 28th - January 4th.

I spent 60 hours of my life these past 7 days watching kids.

Sixty. hours. Sixty. SIXTY!

We could count in all the hours leading up to Christmas too, but honestly, that was nothing compared to this week.

I'm pretty glad it's over, truthfully.

The next 24 hours are all mine...and I get to sleep past 6:45...and I don't have to leave the house in -8º weather at 7 am..and I don't have to get into a semi-freezing car because I didn't start it early enough. 

Yay!

So thankful for the blessings the hours brought me...but also thankful for the full nights sleep I get tonight! Whoo!

xoxo, Ruthanne

meet rach.

Hey, y'all.

I'd like you to meet someone special.

Her name is Rachel.

We used to hate each other.

Now we're pretty much closer than we ever thought we could be.

And we like to shop. A lot.

We sometimes take her day off, Monday, to drink coffee and record music.

Sometimes we write music. Other days we watch Kate Hudson movies.

And then there's those days when we just laugh about how far we've come.

So, yeah. That's my Rach. She's pretty special. 

We went shopping on New Years Day. 

I bought new boots - pictures to come soon...and she bought her first pair of Miss Me jeans...eep!

We both spent too much money, I reckon...but hey.

It's after Christmas so it's okay, right?

O, and basically, you can totally tell our personalities and styles by our sunglasses.

Rachel: Oakley || Ruthanne: Steve Madden

Can you see it? 

She's cool. I'm classic. She wears black. I wear color. She likes vans. I like cowgirl boots. 

And she wears pink as often as I wear sweatshirts. Once in a blue moon.

It's great.

And one last thing..

She is one of the only people I know who knows about this blog..

And I don't even know how she found it!

But...she did. And I think it's pretty cool how she did.

Love you, pretty lady.

nanny diaries: episode 1

YOU GUYS.

I'm pretty sure if I were suddenly given custody of a child right now, I'd know how to take care of them better than their parents would.

I have done so.much.babysitting. this past week. Omg.

The reason I haven't posted the giveaway winner yet is because I'm pretty much a zombie. Basically.

Last night I had just about the craziest night of my life....are you ready? 

By the way, because I'm so zombie like, I'm semi-delusional, and because I'm semi-delusional, I'm going to be really dramatic about this. 

nanny diaries: episode 1

It's 6:47 pm; the two fourteen month old girls are in their beds, sound asleep. T is watching a movie on mom's macbook and here I am, trying to get G down to sleep.

He's crying and fussing, and so not digging this whole "it's time to go to bed thing."

I finally say, "G, we need to go to sleep. You have a big day tomorrow and you need your rest."

I'm sure in his little head he was thinking to himself, "what is it with big people and thinking that tomorrow is going to be big? I think all tomorrow's are the same size."

But nonetheless. His thoughts were portrayed something like throwing a fit, coughing, and throwing up.

Perfect. 

I ask him to get up and go wash his hands while I rinse his blankets out. I lean over the balcony, and ask my friend Erika to keep T downstairs while I clean up the mess. She's rocking 10 week old baby M and as soon as we finish our exchange, all the fire alarms in the house go off. 

G looks at me, terrified. I tell him it's okay, and I bring him downstairs. Erika and I are trying to keep our cool. We get T to sit at the stairs by the door with G, too. I wake the girls, J and P, and bring them downstairs. There's a burning smell, but no fire, anywhere. We call the parents - all 6 of them. Finally, an answer. We call the gatehouse of the sub division we're watching the kids in.

We wait by the door, and try to figure out what the heck is going on. Finally, after 15 minutes and G and T crying, scared, the alarms go off as suddenly as they came.

Erika and I look at each other with relief.

"Were you scared?" she asks me.

"duh. Scariest moment I've ever had babysitting."

I then get the girls and put them back to bed, one at a time; J first. I put P down, and go up to check on J, and she's pooped...literally. So I change her diaper while she drifts off.

I go back downstairs and throw G's blankets in the dryer...put on a movie for the boys, and get myself a bowl of javachip ice cream. 

Breathe. 

Finally, G's blankets are dry...I put him to bed. And just as he's about to fall asleep, mom and dad get home, and we're back to square one with the bedtime routine.

I can honestly say, I don't think I've ever felt like I earned my money like I did last night. 

Ever.

xoxo, Ruthanne

Oh, yeah, and the winner is miss Jamie Dawn..I sent you an email, dear! congrats to you!

2013.

Oh, my word, friends. 2013 is upon us; how is this even possible?   I am so excited and so nervous for this year. I finish high school. I'm turning 18. I might be moving 2,000 miles away to go to school. It's crazy how fast 2012 went by.   I wanted to share with you a little bit of what I want to happen this year; not any new years resolutions, but just things I'm excited/praying for, or things I want to do, try, etc, in no particular order.   I can't wait to graduate. I want to get better at guitar and piano. I want to take singing lessons. I want to save more money than I spend. I want to love more. I want to encourage others more. I want to spend more time in the Word. I want to sing alone more; sit alone in my room and just worship. I want to take more photos of life. And after I take them, I want to make them into a book. I want to pour into young hearts. I want to smile at strangers more. I want to remember the weight my Father bore for my sins every day. I want to write at least 26 songs. I want to get to a place where I am comfortable sharing this blog with those in my life. I want to volunteer at the senior center once or twice a month. I want to pray for people more. I want to make more healthy treats. And stay active and healthy. I want those I love to know that I love them. I want to have a vintage soda shop 18th birthday party. I want to spent less time on my phone and more with the people around me. I want to take my sisters on dates. I want to live a life that demonstrates His love.   I will add to this list, I'm sure, and with time, link posts that relate to each item.   I'm off to go work - I've spent 30+ hours nannying since last Thursday and have another 20 to finish this week out; so I'm sorry I haven't been posting lately! I'l announce the giveaway winner tonight, I promise!   xoxo, Ruthanne